by Michael McNamara
Defending Champions Team Farrar, representing Fishers Island Yacht Club, won the 2018 International One Design World Championship in an exciting series that took place from 26 August to 1 September, 2018 in Stenungsund, Sweden. Thirteen boats did battle over five days of racing, representing Sweden, Norway, Canada, Bermuda and the United States. Team Werdiger (Nantucket) earned their Second Place finish followed by hometown heroes Team Ristorp (Sweden #1) and Team Sandahl (Sweden #2) in Third and Fourth Places, respectively. Team Van Voorhis (Fishers Island #2) rounded out the Top Five.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT
Competitors Meeting & Welcome Reception
After the AGM, the Competitors Meeting and Welcome Reception were held Sunday evening, 25 August, at the scenic Kookaburra restaurant in the Stenungsund Yacht Club. Competitors and their families were graciously greeted by Reine Larsson, Urban Ristorp, Urban Zachrisson, and Björn Wahlström with glasses of champagne and a wonderful dinner of Swedish shrimp and salad. The evening set the tone of graciousness, friendliness and abundant good cheer embodied by our Swedish IOD Fleet hosts throughout the week—as well as showcased their knack for organizing first-class socializing opportunities in beautiful places.
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About the Champions
Team Farrar is made up of Jonathan Farrar at the helm, Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar calling tactics, Kevin Wypychoski trimming main, Mike McNamara trimming jib and spinnaker, and Kevin Gillman on the foredeck. They have been sailing their IOD, the Zallee (named after Jonathan’s seafaring grandmother), for the last five years out of the Fishers Island Yacht Club.
“We focused on sailing a clean regatta. Don’t get me wrong, we are super-competitive, but our program balances that high-intensity with having fun,” says Jonathan, “That’s what keeps us together when things don’t go our way on the course. That, and marriage.”
Isabelle continues: “It was really important for us to keep in tune with the wind shifts; Gillman provides invaluable input on what’s happening with the breeze. Also paramount was starting with clean air away from the pack. Because the upwinds were short it was important not to get pinned and to be able to control your fate—but that’s not always how it works out.”
“Isabelle does an amazing job seeing the race develop on the water and is constantly revising the game plan in real-time. It’s really the difference maker for us,” adds Gillman.
“Our trimmers Mike and Wyp work together really well to keep the boat balanced and moving quickly. The speed they generate makes it possible for us to make good decisions,” says Isabelle. “And on the bow, Gillman keeps up with every turn that we throw at him.”
“We spend a lot of time practicing, not just during our Saturday race series, but whenever we have the chance,” Farrar explains, “I don’t care if you’ve been sailing these things for 30 years, you need time in the boat to keep things synchronized, so things are automatic. Gotta hand it to my team—they put in a lot of hours—they really earned this. This was a really special win, for all of us.”
Jonathan and Isabelle are married, live in the Boston area, and have two daughters, Maya and Celeste, and one Boykin Spaniel, Slocum. Mike McNamara and his wife Kristi are settling into their new home in Copenhagen, Denmark with their daughter, Molly. Kevin Wypychoski lives in Westerly, RI and Warren, VT with his girlfriend Caryn. Kevin Gillman lives with his wife Birgit in Madison, CT.
We would like to thank IOD Fleet Sweden and Stenungsund Segelsällskap for organizing a terrific event and would like to extend a special thank you to Olof, Monika and Anna Bondesson who opened their home to us and made us feel like family while we were in Sweden.
Thank you to all the competitors, organizers, judges and crash boats for a thrilling week.
See you in Marblehead!
